Combined Forces Command - Afghanistan.   ETA: https://commanderschallenge.wordpress.com/2013/07/01/combined-forces-command-afghanistan-challenge-coin-circa-2003-2007/ is an article that briefly describes their mission. 

I don't see evidence of the ear flaps ever having been on this helmet, so this looks like it was factory made this way.  Is there an actual tag inside this helmet?

A buddy of mine who knew the S-4 for the Force claims that this officer was adamant that the stamping was not the first 500.   I know firsthand that the number went past 500.   Enjoy your family's group.  the items of an officer with the paperwork is very special.     Tim

I like your medal for this additional factoid (apart from the others),  Lapwing-class minesweeper USS Finch (AM-9) was the only ship command of Adm.  Hyman Rickover,  "Father of the Nuclear Navy" and the longest serving US serviceman. from 1918-1982.   The ship was at Shanghai in the summer of 1937 and came under fire.    Some historians regard the Battle of Shanghai as the start of World War II, and the first ship casualty was the gunboat USS Panay when the Japanese claimed, despite the large American flag painted on its awning, that bombing and sinking it on 12/12/37 was a "mistake".  If your medal recipient was on Finch at the end when the crew abandoned it in 4/42 and the Japanese refloated, repaired and sailed it,   that only elevates the historical value.   Rickover was only on Finch from 7/17-  10/5/37, until his request for transfer from Line Officer to Engineering Officer was granted.   Notably, during WW2, Rickover was in charge of the salvage and rebuilding of battleship USS California's propulsion system after she was sunk at Pearl Harbor.   Given all the history,  I'd value your medal at a well-publicized auction at $5-600  

I have no clue about the mods but I wouldn't mess with that one just in case. The others are too common. I have two with the cups intact that appear unissued or with little use. I say I'd trade as I would still have one but with another that is a "variant" to the norm. My collection is "representative" that way. We are typically in the London area in Dec but this year we will be all over the US in Nov so not sure about being over this time then. The Norwich area is on our map - likely the next time we are over. I can post pics of mine for reference or just for you to see what I have to trade. Yes, it would be a convoluted deal, but it's the fun kind of thing my wife and I like to do.  We once flew together such a distance(several states here) to get a pair of AN-T-35 shearling trousers to replace the mint pair I had that a neighbor's dog chewed the butt out of. Landed, fueled, met the guy in the FBO, and flew home with replacement trousers. Note: Close and lock the war room door when dog sitting! I'd be willing to make it a long term promise, maybe sometime in late '26-'27, if you really thought you'd do it. Dave  

Bought this one today,  pretty happy to get it. Funny story, a lady I knew had garage sales.  She showed me this patch 30+ years ago, and I offered her a decent amount for it, but she passed, she wanted to research it more. She passed away last year, and now her daughter that I graduated HS with calls me and offered it to me. I thought her mom had sold it, until the daughter sent me a Pic of it, then it jogged my memory! 

I found it as well @carbinekid

Forgot this.     Up close view

All three (3) of those C.K. Duncan buckles came out of an estate sale in Coronado, CA last week.  It appears they were purchased by two different guys for resale.  Interesting to see.

Ooo… I like that one. I have a soft spot for the white dress uniforms